[crocereto]

I need to by a crate for her and I have no idea how big she is going to be. Several people have told me different things about the suspected breed. I have heard: pit bull, pit bull mix, bull terrier, great dane, etc. She is 3 months old and 17lbs at the time I adopted her. However, she is underweight and has kennel cough so she isn't her full healthy puppy size. When I found her at the pound she had been there since she was 8 weeks old and according to their records they had already euthanized her. I fell in love and adopted her through animal rescue. (my local pound does not adopt out "bully" breeds.) She is doing better as far as her kennel cough but I still have no clue what she is. The pound said pit bull, but she isn't stocky like one. She is very tall and quite large for a puppy of only 3 months. (Not counting her weight). Any suggestions would be great! Picture links are below. The pictures are when I first got her. She is now much thinner because of the kennel cough.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=999745&l=c3e363ecc7&id=1312249672

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=999742&l=57f0320f8e&id=1312249672

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=999748&l=6e37fe8ab6&id=1312249672

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=999746&l=59daaf1d22&id=1312249672

[cdad]

You can take the dog to a vet and they can tell you through a DNA sample what mix the dog is. Also they could give you advice on temperament etc after the testing.

[shazamataz]

Those DNA tests look good on paper, but they aren't very accurate for determining breed.
They are only really used for proving parentage (who the dogs sire and dam are)

I would be tempted to say Pitt Bull x Border Collie myself.

As for the crate you may need to buy 2.
It's impossible to tell what size she will end up an you don't want to go buying a HUGE crate now, when she may not need it.

My mum has Great Danes and she uses 3 crates while they are growing.

[cdad]

It looked convincing anyway.

Ref:

Dog Breed DNA Test | Canine Breed Testing

[crocereto]

What about a crate with a divider? I have seen those before. Right now I have a kennel/carrier for her medium size but I want something I can put water in.

[shazamataz]

A crate with a divider would be excellent if you can get one (why didn't I think of that :rolleyes:)
You could even use a large crate and make a divider yourself just out of plywood.

I have a show trolley... they are a crate on wheels, with a solid top you can use as a grooming table (they are surprisingly hand for larger dogs who don't like being brushed/dryed) and they have clips on the inside to attach a divider.
Mine looks like this:

[Catsmine]

What about a crate with a divider? I have seen those before. Right now I have a kennel/carrier for her medium size but I want something I can put water in.

It's not normally a good idea to leave water in a dog's crate. It can lead to problems with a wet crate, whether from kicking while asleep, sloppy drinking habits, or potty training issues. I know I hate sitting on a wet seat, how will the dog feel about it?

We have water available outside the door and in the kitchen. We do have the luxury of staggered schedules so monitoring puppies isn't that big a change.

As to crate size, look for one sized for up to 26" tall. That's med. - large.

[shazamataz]

It's not normally a good idea to leave water in a dog's crate. It can lead to problems with a wet crate, whether from kicking while asleep, sloppy drinking habits, or potty training issues. I know I hate sitting on a wet seat, how will the dog feel about it?

We have water available outside the door and in the kitchen. We do have the luxury of staggered schedules so monitoring puppies isn't that big a change.

As to crate size, look for one sized for up to 26" tall. That's med. - large.

I both agree and disagree Cats.
If I'm going to be gone for a few hours I do leave water in the crate for my pup, but I have one of these type bowls:

[Catsmine]

I note you addressed all three of the issues I brought up with the height and size of the bowl. It can't be kicked over, sloppy drinkers spill on their paws, and there's not enough for an animal that size to cause a potty problem while there is some available. Very well thought out.

[shazamataz]

What can I say... I just love those bowls, I only ever put about 1inch of water in the bottom, probably less, just enough for them to get a bit of a drink, but not enough for it to go straight through their system and cause any potty issues.

I know all about water and dogs from listening to mum drone on about getting the poodles coats wet after they had been bathed for a show :D

[crocereto]

Well, my problem is that since she is sicky, I want her to have as much water as possible, so I think the type shaza showed would be great. I only crate her when we aren't home. She is doing great with house-training and I want her to be safe when we aren't home which is only 5- 6hrs and my husband comes home from lunch so it is really 2 hour stints. When we are home we leave her out, even over-night. She sleeps in our room with the door shut at night time. No potty accidents to date either. I do this so I can keep an eye on her overnight because her cough is so much worse. She is very well behaved and very smart, but she isn't feeling well. Thanks for you advice and that kennel in the picture is awesome. Where do you get them from?

[shazamataz]

You can buy them online, or get a pet store to order one in for you.
One problem is, although they are great, and easy to transport they are expensive.

Here is a guy who makes them himself, there is no price on there but they usually retail for around $250.
Dog Show Equipment

Can't find any on e-bay at the moment but there are plenty of other styles on there, I just searched for "Dog Crate Wheels"